PEER REVIEW PROCESS

Journal of Early Childhood Innovation and Learning applies a double-blind peer review process to ensure the quality and integrity of published manuscripts. Every manuscript submitted to JECIL is evaluated objectively, fairly, and confidentially according to the following procedures:

1. Initial Screening

All manuscripts received by the editorial office are initially screened by the Editor-in-Chief and Associate Editors to assess:

  • The manuscript’s alignment with the journal’s aims and scope;

  • Compliance with the author guidelines, formatting, and ethical standards;

  • Originality (verified through plagiarism checking software such as Turnitin or iThenticate, with a maximum similarity threshold of 20%).

Manuscripts that do not meet these criteria will be returned to authors without external review (desk rejection).

2. Peer Review Assignment

Manuscripts that pass the initial screening are assigned to two independent reviewers who are experts in the relevant field. Reviewers are selected based on their scholarly competence, publication record, and absence of conflict of interest.

The review process follows a double-blind system, meaning:

  • The reviewers do not know the authors’ identities,

  • The authors do not know the reviewers’ identities.

If reviewers’ recommendations significantly differ, a third reviewer may be invited to provide an additional evaluation.

3. Review Criteria

Reviewers are asked to evaluate the manuscript based on:

  • Originality and contribution to the field of early childhood education and innovation;

  • Theoretical and methodological rigor;

  • Clarity of research objectives and coherence of argumentation;

  • Relevance of literature and quality of data interpretation;

  • Structure, writing quality, and adherence to ethical research standards.

Each reviewer provides a detailed report and one of the following recommendations:

  1. Accept as it is

  2. Accept with minor revisions

  3. Reconsider after major revisions

  4. Reject

4. Decision and Revision

Based on reviewers’ comments, the editorial team makes one of the following decisions:

  • Accept Submission – the paper will be processed for publication;

  • Revisions Required – the author must revise and resubmit;

  • Decline Submission – the paper is rejected due to major weaknesses.

Revised manuscripts must be submitted within 2–4 weeks. The editorial team ensures that revisions address all reviewers’ comments before making the final decision.

5. Final Decision and Publication

The Editor-in-Chief makes the final decision based on the reviewers’ recommendations, editorial assessment, and journal policy. Accepted papers undergo:

  • Copyediting for language, style, and formatting;

  • Proofreading by the authors before final publication.

The total review process usually takes 6–10 weeks depending on reviewer availability and the complexity of revisions.

6. Ethical Considerations

JECIL follows ethical publication standards established by COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics). Any suspected case of plagiarism, data fabrication, or unethical authorship will be investigated according to COPE guidelines.

7. Confidentiality

All manuscripts, reviewer comments, and editorial communications are treated as confidential. Reviewers and editors are prohibited from using any part of unpublished material for personal or academic gain.